Gangseo District to Launch "Mental Health School" Program at 80 Elementary, Middle, and High Schools

On April 24, the Gangseo District Mental Health Welfare Center (Director: Jin Kyohoon) in Gangseo District, Seoul, announced that it will officially launch the "Mental Health School" program to promote mental health with a focus on schools.

The "Mental Health School" initiative aims to identify high-risk groups for mental health issues among students, parents, and teachers at an early stage. The program also seeks to support recovery by connecting these individuals with relevant agencies based on the results of mental health screenings.

Students participating in mental health school education. Provided by Gangseo District.

The center will operate the "Mental Health School" program at 80 elementary, middle, and high schools. The center plans to provide tailored services to each school, including mental health screenings, psychological counseling for high-risk groups, life-respect education, and mental health education.

The "Mental Health Screening" will be conducted for students and teachers to assess anxiety disorders, suicide risk, and levels of depression. If individuals are identified as high-risk, they will undergo a more in-depth evaluation. Based on the results, the center will provide follow-up care, including connections to mental health services.

For students, "Life-Respect Education" will be provided to help them recognize the value of life and prevent suicide. For parents and teachers, "Mental Health Education" will be offered to help them effectively address students' depression and anger.

Last year, life-respect education was provided to 9,279 students at 57 elementary and middle schools in the district, and 111 high-risk students and teachers were identified early. The district plans to establish a school-based mental health promotion system to systematically manage the mental well-being of all school community members.

According to an announcement last year by the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union and the Ministry of Education, 43.9% of teachers nationwide experienced severe depressive symptoms, while 42.3% of students reported high levels of stress. There is an urgent need to implement proactive prevention and support measures.

Song Hyuncheol, head of the center, said, "By identifying high-risk groups for mental health issues early and connecting them to counseling and treatment, we aim to create an environment where all members of the school community can be healthy." He added, "We will do our best to build a community network to take responsibility for the mental health of Gangseo District residents as well."